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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Vomiting And Diarrhea Along With Abdominal Bloating
Question: last Saturday I went to a wedding, ate salad, cooked carrots and roasted pork from the buffet. the next day I felt like I had a stone in my stomach. and the feeling persisted and worsened during the next 3 days. I felt extremely bloated, had diarrhea, no blood in stool, no vomiting, no fever; I eliminated solid foods from my diet for the last two days...just broth for lunch and dinner, and this seemed to help. Pepto Bismol and simethicone have not helped symptoms much. heading to Europe for business trip on Friday. I'm thinking its a virus but its taking so long to resolve...should I be seeking additional medical intervention? is there anything else I should be doing to manage the symptoms?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Given the history you provided, I agree, this does sound likely to be a viral gastroenteritis (stomach "flu"). The other most likely consideration is food poisoning (from bacteria or toxins they produce), but usually food poisoning comes on within a few hours, is more "violent" or severe, and resolves more quickly too.
My guess is that one of the food handlers (or possibly a guest) may have had this virus and shared it with the food you ate.
Stomach flu usually resolves within about 3 days, but may go on up to 10 days. I know that isn't what you will want to hear with your upcoming trip. But the symptoms may start to taper sooner than that.
Eliminating solid food for a couple of days as you did is good in that it gives your digestive tract a rest. You may want to experiment and try some apple sauce (not raw apples), and rice (cooked for longer than the required time, with extra water). Eat only small amounts at a time. If this goes ok, add bananas and plain toast.
The over-cooked rice can be binding and slow things down.
For rehydration fluids, products such as Gatorade can have a lot of added sugar, and this can increase the chance of osmotic diarrhea (water from your digestive tract is drawn by the high solute volume/sugar into the stool, causing a watery diarrhea). You may want to, instead, try coconut water (not coconut milk) as this has a nice balance of electrolytes that you are losing from the diarrhea.
At this point, you may want to try a stronger antidiarrheal medicine if the Pepto Bismol isn't doing enough. Imodium is one you might consider.
I also think it would be reasonable to go in to be seen (your doctor or urgent care clinic) to make sure there is not something else going on. While I think this is very likely a viral gastroenteritis, I don't want to miss something and you go off to Europe untreated. The doctor can examine your abdomen, have a listen, check your electrolytes (to make sure you are not getting potassium depleted). I advise against seeing a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant for this as you want someone who can generate a more extensive differential diagnosis list to look into now rather than later.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Given the history you provided, I agree, this does sound likely to be a viral gastroenteritis (stomach "flu"). The other most likely consideration is food poisoning (from bacteria or toxins they produce), but usually food poisoning comes on within a few hours, is more "violent" or severe, and resolves more quickly too.
My guess is that one of the food handlers (or possibly a guest) may have had this virus and shared it with the food you ate.
Stomach flu usually resolves within about 3 days, but may go on up to 10 days. I know that isn't what you will want to hear with your upcoming trip. But the symptoms may start to taper sooner than that.
Eliminating solid food for a couple of days as you did is good in that it gives your digestive tract a rest. You may want to experiment and try some apple sauce (not raw apples), and rice (cooked for longer than the required time, with extra water). Eat only small amounts at a time. If this goes ok, add bananas and plain toast.
The over-cooked rice can be binding and slow things down.
For rehydration fluids, products such as Gatorade can have a lot of added sugar, and this can increase the chance of osmotic diarrhea (water from your digestive tract is drawn by the high solute volume/sugar into the stool, causing a watery diarrhea). You may want to, instead, try coconut water (not coconut milk) as this has a nice balance of electrolytes that you are losing from the diarrhea.
At this point, you may want to try a stronger antidiarrheal medicine if the Pepto Bismol isn't doing enough. Imodium is one you might consider.
I also think it would be reasonable to go in to be seen (your doctor or urgent care clinic) to make sure there is not something else going on. While I think this is very likely a viral gastroenteritis, I don't want to miss something and you go off to Europe untreated. The doctor can examine your abdomen, have a listen, check your electrolytes (to make sure you are not getting potassium depleted). I advise against seeing a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant for this as you want someone who can generate a more extensive differential diagnosis list to look into now rather than later.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thx for the thorough response. Much appreciated
Brief Answer:
Your welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Your welcome. I hope you are better soon and have a good trip.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Your welcome.
Detailed Answer:
Your welcome. I hope you are better soon and have a good trip.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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